Can't beat these guys! small businesses are dwindling…read morebecause of the giants out there putting these guys out of business! Back Alley stand out because the staff are chilled out enough to let you wander with out jumping on your backs for a sale, but they also REALLY know their stuff and are honest! Great shop and I always make time to pop in when I visit Chester.

I like this place because it packs so much in to such a comparatively small store space (650 sq…read moreft), and because the staff are savvy enough to let you browse to your heart's content without putting any undue sales pressure on. Last time I was in there, I was given genuinely helpful advice - the sales guy actually steering me towards a cheaper product (of the 2-3 choices available) - because he felt it was actually the better item for my needs. I appreciate that sort of assistance, and if I was in the area and looking for music gear, this is the shop I'd be buying from. In fact, I'll be in there again before Christmas for some guitar accessories.

I went to Dawsons in Chester just for a look around and ended up buying a keyboard. Just wanted to…read moresay the staff went out of their way to help even when the shop closed they offered to put it into the car so the 2 guys with baldy heads nice one

This place gets a mention for the sheer breadth of the range of gear in stock - guitars, keyboards,…read moreschool orchestral, dj and mixing gear etc - and the fact that I've never had a salesperson breathing down my neck, no matter how long I've spent browsing around the store (even though I've probably looked like a shoplifter on the prowl). The keyword here, is 'relaxed'. You feel welcome in the place, and when you do ask for info or advice, they're happy to give it - without trying to hang a sale on it. An excellent cutting-edge hi-tech section too, for those into the potential of Macs and PCs, using Pro-Tools, Cubase or suchlike. All of our son's keyboards have been bought from this shop, from when he started off at home to the gear he's used gigging live. We like the fact that the store is trustworthy, and you're never going to get ripped off - and that we have an actual person to deal with should a problem arise. Something to bear in mind before committing to a maybe a cheaper online deal, from a shop without any actual physical presence (such as Thomann) just to save a few quid.

Jack White Jimmy Page…read moreNeil Young Chuck Berry Bo Diddley B.B. King Neil Young Frank Zappa Brian May Bert Jansch Joni Mitchell Elmore James Django Reinhardt If you want to add your list to the world's best guitar players, you're gonna need flexible fingers, pots of ambition and determination and a great axe. One of the best places to go, get advice and try out different guitars is Sounds Great. It's a bit of a hike from the city centre but they have a good selection of new, vintage and secondhand electric guitars, acoustic guitars and basses. Prices range from a few hundred pounds to £15,000 for one of Fender's rare and highly collectible, hand-crafted, Eric Clapton Blackie Tribute Stratocasters! For those with a significantly smaller budget, they also sell amps, pedals, tuners, spare strings, recording equipment and the musician's enemy - drum machines! The mighty Bo Diddley in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=979rwnVPG4A

The only thing I don't like about this place is that it's not next door to my apartment. Most…read moreguitar stores sell so many commercial models, and half the time they're straight out of a factory, don't play so great and are ridiculously overpriced. I find this place different, especially for advanced players. If you're in the early stages of learning to play the guitar, the model won't matter as much, but when you develop those chords, tasty licks, riffs and solos, this is the place to go. One thing you should always do before buying equipment is try it out. Sounds Great is one of the few stores in which you can really accomplish this, because they actually HAVE IT IN STOCK! It drives me crazy when you walk into a guitar store and ask for a particular item and they don't have it, but might have some model you don't want in about 80 billion colours filling the whole show room. Grr. Anyway, if you're are a serious player and like to spend a buck or two, I heavily recommend Sounds Great. In store they have some rare makes such as Diezel, Matchless, Divided by 13, Suhr to name a few... I guarantee you that these names along with your custom Fenders, Gibsons and Marshalls, cannot be found in the average music store. Oh and the accessories section is awesome. The guys that work there are not afraid to take a risk on bringing in a new product.

The music cellar is a fabulous music store. I know nothing about musical instruments, yet their…read morehelp and advice when purchasing my sons flute was brilliant. The instrument provided is of very good quality and my son is progressing much better having bought his own flute. The staff know their stuff, and are always helpful and attentive to your requirements. Highly recommended store.

This is the best music shop in Nottingham. A family business I have relied on for 40 years. Great…read moreservice, advice, prices and stock, especially second-hand. Excellent for repairs.

I was in Nottingham overnight during a tour stop. the Floyd Rose bridge on my guitar was acting up,…read moreas you may know they are tricky beasts. I brought it to Music Inn, a scant half mile from the hotel, where Dan sorted it for me promptly and cheerfully, and at a very decent price. the proprietress even charged my phone in her office while I waited!

Called in at Guitar-A-Rama for a look round, great shop, lots of choice from entry level to top…read moreend. Where else can you see fifteen Gibson Guitars other than say Dawsons, and you can, without obligation, try any guitar in the shop. And you get a cup of tea. When ever I am in Wrexham now, I send the wife off shopping and I go to Guitar A Rama, for a chat, play on the guitars, and get some free advice. I highly rate this shop.

I used this store when trying to buy a piano for my Mum. We couldn't go and see it as she is not…read moreable. The help I was given by a person from Mail Order was immense. They helped me every step of the way - never got tired of answering my questions - even did a CD for me of 2 different pianos! They were exceptional. We got the piano. Delivery was very efficient as well.

From the owner: Dawsons Music store in Warrington has been a centre serving the needs of local musicians for…read moredecades. It has an onsite music school, teaching guitar, bass, piano and drums, and the site itself is a Rockschool Examination centre! A range of over 150 guitars and basses provides options for every player at every level. And Dawsons are one of the country's leading Gibson and Epiphone dealers. Lovers of guitar amps can choose from Blackstar amps among a wide range of other brands. And, if all you need is a set of strings, you will find an accessory wall loaded with a massive range of D'Addario strings, along with other major lines. However, it isn't all 'rock 'n' roll'. As a stockist of Kawai, Dawsons have Yamaha Clavinovas, acoustic pianos and a range of synthesisers too. A very well stocked music technology department caters to the needs of producers, engineers and electronic musicians, whilst onsite repairers are on hand to fix brass, woodwind and guitars.

Well it is 10 years later from writing my original review and I am pleased to say little has…read morechanged - apart from the ridiculous amount of money I've spent in here now - probably nearing £15-20K compared to the £2K on my original review. Needless to say, any business which can retain a customer for so long in face of competition like Anderton's and their global media presence says a lot. On that media note, PMT also have a YouTube channel which is fun and engaging offering reviews as well as tours of stores and celebrity interviews etc. Manchester is still a great store and during covid I continued to use their click and collect service to show my support. I love it here.

I hold my hands up, my non-calloused, soft hands... I'm not a musician, yelpers. I've tried the…read moreguitar, bass, keyboard, flute, violin, and I can't practise. Musically, I have the attention span of a gnat. I know the fact that I tend to hang round with them is well documented, and I constantly protest that I'm not a groupie; they just happen to be in my social circle. But as a result of this I do happen to find myself escorted into musical instrument shops, and Professional Music Technology, being right down the road, is one that crops up quite regularly. PMT to musical purchase is what a chain restaurant is to eating. Real foodies love the creative, unique process that goes into cooking at a local independent restaurant, and die-hard musicians love beat-up second hand gear full of character, which is something you won't find here. Nor will you find... the food thing at the... you understand what I'm saying, yes. It does the job, and it's excellent for the mid-level or hobby player as they always have the necessary strings, leads and accessories in stock. In terms of Manchester, if you're after something one of a kind and looking to spend an absolute fortune, Johnny Roadhouse or Sounds Great would be your best bet. And while for new players it makes a great browse, this is the professional musician's Superdrug or Boots; it's the local supermarket metro, that quick stop-off to grab some essentials. And we all need those!

Absolutely awesome little shop. Great guitars at great prices. Go and see Dan for your guitar…read moreneeds. Set ups, lessons you name it and he's the man. Please support your local high street shops. Too many are disappearing.